Facts

MUG SHOTS

Police say Ronald Richard Karas, 41, of the 5000 block of Syracuse Road in South Venice, lured a 20-year-old woman into his van Wednesday afternoon with the promise of work and a ride home. The victim escaped.

Venice Police Chief Tom McNulty said Karas is suspected of abducting another woman about a week ago, who was also able to get away.

“He was looking for a victim,” McNulty said. “It would have just been a matter of time before he found one.”

Police said Karas approached the victim about 12:50 p.m. near Avenido Del Circo and U.S. 41 Business on Venice island.

Karas asked if the woman wanted a ride, which she declined before going into a nearby cafe, according to a police report.

Once she left the cafe, Karas was allegedly waiting for her in his van, which was towing a work trailer, and said that he wanted to discuss a potential landscaping job.

The woman got inside, and Karas pulled out of the parking lot onto southbound U.S. 41.

Police said Karas changed his tone once the woman was inside his car and asked if the woman would be interested in posing for a sexual foot-fetish website.

He also rubbed the woman's foot against her will and offered her money for sex.

The woman refused and requested to leave. Karas allegedly locked the doors of his 2005 White GMC van and drove away.

When the van stopped at a red light, the victim was able to reach out of the window and open the door from the outside. She told police she could not open the handle from the inside, as the interior of the passenger side door appeared to be dismantled.

She ran away and called police, who quickly surrounded the area.

“We literally all came out and saturated the area,” McNulty said. “Myself and the captain included.”

McNulty said an officer saw a van matching the victim's description and found Karas inside. The victim identified Karas as the man who would not let her out of his car.

Karas told police that he did have contact with the victim, but that the victim had flagged him down for a ride. He denied all other accusations.

Karas is being held at the Sarasota County jail without bail, charged with simple battery, solicitation for prostitution, possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia and kidnapping and false imprisonment.

He had been previously convicted of luring a child to perform sexual favors on him while he lived in North Dakota. He is a registered sex offender and was wearing a GPS-tracking ankle bracelet when he was arrested.

McNulty said more charges are likely to be brought against Karas and believes there may be more victims in the Venice area.

“He had a drive,” McNulty said. “We just control (sex offenders) — they don't get better.”

Police urge anyone who may have been a victim to call authorities at (941) 486-2444.

<p><em>VENICE</em> - A registered sex offender is back in jail after police said he abducted a young woman and would not let her out of his van. </p><p>Police say Ronald Richard Karas, 41, of the 5000 block of Syracuse Road in South Venice, lured a 20-year-old woman into his van Wednesday afternoon with the promise of work and a ride home. The victim escaped.</p><p>Venice Police Chief Tom McNulty said Karas is suspected of abducting another woman about a week ago, who was also able to get away.</p><p>“He was looking for a victim,” McNulty said. “It would have just been a matter of time before he found one.”</p><p>Police said Karas approached the victim about 12:50 p.m. near Avenido Del Circo and U.S. 41 Business on Venice island.</p><p>Karas asked if the woman wanted a ride, which she declined before going into a nearby cafe, according to a police report.</p><p>Once she left the cafe, Karas was allegedly waiting for her in his van, which was towing a work trailer, and said that he wanted to discuss a potential landscaping job.</p><p>The woman got inside, and Karas pulled out of the parking lot onto southbound U.S. 41.</p><p>Police said Karas changed his tone once the woman was inside his car and asked if the woman would be interested in posing for a sexual foot-fetish website.</p><p>He also rubbed the woman's foot against her will and offered her money for sex.</p><p>The woman refused and requested to leave. Karas allegedly locked the doors of his 2005 White GMC van and drove away.</p><p>When the van stopped at a red light, the victim was able to reach out of the window and open the door from the outside. She told police she could not open the handle from the inside, as the interior of the passenger side door appeared to be dismantled.</p><p>She ran away and called police, who quickly surrounded the area.</p><p>“We literally all came out and saturated the area,” McNulty said. “Myself and the captain included.”</p><p>McNulty said an officer saw a van matching the victim's description and found Karas inside. The victim identified Karas as the man who would not let her out of his car.</p><p>Karas told police that he did have contact with the victim, but that the victim had flagged him down for a ride. He denied all other accusations.</p><p>Karas is being held at the Sarasota County jail without bail, charged with simple battery, solicitation for prostitution, possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia and kidnapping and false imprisonment.</p><p>He had been previously convicted of luring a child to perform sexual favors on him while he lived in North Dakota. He is a registered sex offender and was wearing a GPS-tracking ankle bracelet when he was arrested.</p><p>McNulty said more charges are likely to be brought against Karas and believes there may be more victims in the Venice area.</p><p>“He had a drive,” McNulty said. “We just control (sex offenders) — they don't get better.”</p><p>Police urge anyone who may have been a victim to call authorities at (941) 486-2444.</p>